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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 108: Obtaining the Sword and Spirit Medicine.
I couldn’t sleep all night. After wandering through the deep caverns of my thoughts, the morning that finally arrived felt especially welcoming.
“Wow, I’m so fucking tired.”
“Did you not sleep well?”
Peter asked with concern as I stretched and yawned.
“I had a lot on my mind.”
“Ah…”
Peter looked at me like I was some pitiful stray cat, so I made a gesture as if poking his eyes.
“Open your eyes wide.”
“How am I supposed to open my eyes wide?”
“Stop being noisy. You talk too much.”
Jeffrey and Olivier also came to my bedroom.
“Young Master, you’re awake.”
“There were no issues during last night’s watch.”
Jeffrey reported.
“You’ve all worked hard. I couldn’t sleep either.”
“It’s unavoidable during times like these. But since we get to sleep while others work, it’s not all bad.”
“Well, that’s true.”
I glanced at Olivier.
“Is everything going smoothly with the work?”
“Yes. Fortunately, my uncle has also been accommodating.”
“That’s a relief.”
We managed to extract Gemini, and the tense conflict with Verdzig was resolved peacefully.
‘Though it’s only a temporary peace.’
Verdzig’s surveillance will undoubtedly continue. That’s why I need to focus on establishing a communication network with Zizek through Peter and Bridget.
“What about Gemini’s family?”
“We plan to quietly smuggle them out once the situation stabilizes a bit more.”
“Good. Olivier, you’ll need to handle that with a bit more care.”
“Understood.”
Jeffrey added,
“I’ll report back as soon as the Royal Guard who escorted Gemini return.”
“Good. And one more thing.”
I continued,
“Be cautious. My brother might try to interfere. From his perspective, anyone who can report on the internal movements of the Royal Guards would be a thorn in his side.”
“Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jeffrey nodded, acknowledging that there had already been some unsettling signs.
“Alright, let’s go eat.”
“Ah, Young Master.”
Olivier called out to me as if he had something left to say.
“Actually, yesterday my uncle quietly hinted something to me.”
“What was it?”
“Both my uncle and the Clan Head were deeply impressed by how you handled this situation.”
I chuckled.
“That’s good to hear.”
Olivier spoke with a serious expression.
“Young Master, all of us in your retinue are once again in awe of your foresight and compassion.”
“Stop it. You’re making me embarrassed.”
I waved my hand awkwardly.
“But does that mean there’s no reward or something?”
Olivier smiled slyly.
“Actually, we’ve already prepared something.”
***
“Here, please accept this.”
Venion handed me a finely crafted sword.
“What’s this?”
“As you can see, it’s a sword. A gift from the Clan Head.”
Venion explained.
“It’s a treasured sword forged by a renowned dwarven craftsman from Grunewald. It may not be on par with the legendary blades used by the Clan Head or your older siblings, but it’s more than adequate for practical use.”
I took the sword.
“Oh.”
The weight was just right, and the grip felt perfect in my hand. For the underworld, this was a quality you’d be lucky to find.
“Do you like it?”
“Of course.”
It didn’t matter much to me that it wasn’t the finest. A sword of this caliber was more than enough for me.
“A swordsman doesn’t need to obsess over owning an overly expensive blade. A sword that’s too extravagant can harm its wielder. I think this one suits me perfectly for now. After all, the soul of a swordsman lies not in the blade but in the heart.”
“That’s a splendid way to put it.”
Venion remarked.
“Does the sword have a name?”
“The craftsman named it ‘Voyager of the Night.’”
“…Hmm.”
I drew the beautifully named sword. The smooth, cool sensation as it slid out felt satisfying. The blade, tinged with a faint blue hue, was exquisite.
“Would you like to try channeling mana into it?”
I did as he suggested.
“Wow, this is…”
As I did, a blue aura shimmered, and tiny points of light sparkled like stars across the blade.
“Impressive.”
Was it meant to embody the sea and the stars?
“You seem pleased.”
“Of course.”
Originally, Karzan wasn’t the type to fuss over the quality of a sword. But that didn’t mean I had to insist on using a bad one, right?
‘Now I have two swords.’
The other is the bracelet sword gifted by Ulbhild.
‘Let’s consider them as symbols: one for Allenvert, the Young Master of Grunewald, and the other for Karzan, the mad dog of the underworld.’
Wielding such an expensive and ornate sword in the underworld would be akin to confessing my true identity. So, it’s more fitting for Allenvert.
On the other hand, the bracelet sword is much simpler, more practical, and unassuming. It resembles an assassin’s blade—easy to carry yet strong enough for real combat. Perfect for Karzan, the mad dog.
‘Hmm, now that I think about it…’
I hadn’t given it much thought before, but suddenly the name ‘bracelet sword’ seemed too plain.
‘Shouldn’t it have a more impressive name?’
But I’m not particularly good at naming things.
‘I’ll have to ask my tutor to come up with something later.’
As I lost myself in these thoughts, Venion chuckled and spoke up.
“By the way, Young Master, you’ve once again exceeded expectations.”
“How did it seem to you?”
I remembered Venion’s advice to be particularly wary of Verdzig.
“Well, I’d say you’ve earned more than a passing grade.”
“In what way?”
“It’s up to me whether to share the grading criteria.”
“You’re quite strict.”
Venion pulled a wooden box from his robe.
“Now, let’s get to the main point.”
Since I could sense a mystical aura emanating from the box, I licked my lips and said.
“This seems like it’s going to be a very interesting main point.”
What came out of the box was a small glass vial.
“This is called Celestrine Draft. It’s a spirit medicine made from the purified waters of a mystical lake guarded by the elves.”
Venion explained.
“The process of collecting the water itself requires a mystical ritual performed by the elves.”
“…I think I’ve heard about this in class.”
I muttered.
“The elves perform a ritual where they immerse their children in the lake they hold sacred. It’s not just a symbolic act—it’s said to grant the blessing of the lake’s guardian spirit, enhancing one’s affinity with mana.”
“That’s why the second and third generations of elves assimilated into human society can’t wield the same abilities as their ancestors.”
“Exactly.”
I stared at the vial.
“I didn’t expect to receive such a precious spirit medicine. Truly, there’s nothing Grunewald can’t obtain.”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
Venion grinned.
“Though it was quite a struggle to secure the budget for it.”
“How touching.”
I replied casually.
“Then hand it over quickly.”
“Before that, you’ll need to sit properly and perform the Cycle of mana cultivation.”
“Understood.”
I composed myself.
“I’ll assist you with the consumption, so follow my instructions carefully.”
***
The process of consuming a spirit medicine is always similar. If it contains the essence of fire, your insides heat up as if you’ve drunk strong liquor. If it’s toxic, you must carefully neutralize it.
But with a spirit medicine imbued with the essence of water, there’s little to worry about. Water is inherently gentle. This wasn’t a spirit medicine with the violent properties of a flood or a tidal wave.
“Now, I’ll let go. Finish your mana circulation and slowly open your eyes.”
So, Venion’s offer to assist meant he would help me extract the maximum effect.
“How do you feel?”
When I opened my eyes, the world seemed clearer and brighter. The uncomfortable energies that had been lurking like bandits in my blood vessels and organs, the residues that even the power of the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique couldn’t fully cleanse, felt significantly purified.
“…This is incredible.”
The potion Somerset gave me and the spirit medicine Lady Emengarde provided were on a completely different level compared to this. If I had to compare, this was at least three or four grades above.
It wasn’t until I felt my body become significantly lighter that I realized just how heavy it had been before.
“It feels like the energy of a tiger is surging within me.”
“That’s a relief.”
‘Celestrine Draft.’ was it?
Just one dose of this elven spirit medicine had propelled me close to the mid of the 4th-tier in power.
“Venion.”
“Yes?”
“Bring anyone here in front of me.”
“Suddenly?”
“I feel like I could take on anyone right now.”
I said, feeling an extraordinary power coursing through my fists.
“You could even bring the Knight Commander or the Archmage. A supreme genius, capable of blaspheming even the gods, has just been born…”
Unable to listen to my nonsense any longer, Venion muttered.
“…Did the spirit medicine get mixed with alcohol or something?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, so don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
I channeled the mana I gained from the spirit medicine Venion gave me into the treasured sword he also provided.
Whoosh!
A brilliant aura flowed out like a blazing torch.
“Wow, that’s startling.”
When I compressed the aura again, it became a sharper, more vivid sea-blue, shimmering with starlight.
“Congratulations. Your mastery of the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique has risen yet again.”
“I might have to learn an advanced technique soon.”
I still hadn’t properly begun training in the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique, left behind by Grunewald’s founding ancestor, Duke Vitenfeld. That was on Ludan’s advice.
‘I might be ready to learn it now.’
But I won’t rush it.
“By the way, is there anything I can cut?”
“Would you like to try slicing this wooden box?”
“Sure.”
Venion tossed the box into the air—
Swoosh!
I unleashed a slash so intense it could have split a boulder, shattering the box into pieces.
“Hmm, still a bit rough.”
If it were the old me, I would have cleanly bisected the box.
But now, it looked like it had been smashed by a spiked mace, broken into a messy heap.
“That sword is no ordinary treasure. While the power of your sword aura has increased, you’ll need to refine your precision.”
“If I adapt to this and fully digest the increased mana, I’ll be able to grow even stronger.”
Mid 4th-tier mana.
An exceptional treasured sword.
Grunewald’s various divine techniques.
With my current strength, even a 5th-tier expert wouldn’t find it easy to twist my wrist or kick me away.
“Congratulations.”
Venion grinned.
“But considering the results you’ve shown, you’ve earned this level of reward.”
“I think so too.”
“It won’t be long before you achieve the 10th level in the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.”
I understood what he meant.
“Does that mean I’ll soon be able to learn the advance techniques?”
“Correct.”
I thought of the techniques Mordecai had used. The techniques of Grunewald’s famed swordsmanship would undoubtedly be far more powerful.
“But that’s not for today. First, you need to adapt to your increased strength and your new weapon.”
I nodded willingly.
“I know.”
The path to mastering a skill always requires the virtue of steadfastness. For now, it’s time to quietly elevate my level.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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